Sabine – University of Navarra – Spain
Semester 2, 2024
Bachelor of Law (Honours) / Bachelor of Business (Economics)
Hi! My name is Sabine and I’m studying a double degree in Law and Business (Economics). I went on exchange in semester 2 of 2024 with the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.
From my first year at university, I have always wanted to go on exchange. I love to travel, experience new places and cultures, and see new things. The idea of taking a single suitcase and a backpack and jumping on a plane to go and spend 6 months on the other side of the world was captivating… and kind of terrifying as the reality of it came ever closer. I wasn’t sure I would ever get to go on exchange, with COVID, changes in study plans, and personal health concerns, but suddenly I was going, and I had to get things organised fast.
One piece of advice I will give at this point in the story is to make sure you actually read your emails. When the email says, “ensure you submit your visa application 8 weeks before you leave”, you should probably endeavour to do that. Luckily for me, I got my visa back surprisingly quickly (with no shortage of anxiety).
My travels started well – I didn’t forget anything, I survived the 10 hour lay-over, and I was able to do a little travel before the start of semester. However, I got very sick a week before my classes were due to start and spent my first couple weeks in Spain confined to my bed. This was one of my biggest challenges while on exchange, as I had transitioned out of Aussie winter (sick season) and into European winter (extra sick season), and it felt as though I was sick all the time. Another piece of advice! Be prepared for things to go wrong. Know who you’re going to call when you need to see a doctor and know how to ask for Panadol in the native language.
Sickness aside, my experience on exchange was absolutely wonderful. I met so many amazing people from all around the world, including Germany, England, Ireland, Japan, Guatemala, Poland, Italy and many more. I quickly developed a routine, cycling to class, enjoying the city and exploring various hobbies. I went to dance classes and learnt Basque routines, I went rock climbing and managed to hike some of the Camino de Santiago. I made lots of friends who were always keen to meet up, try some new food or just hang out at the library. The University of Navarra has such an enormous exchange population (1/3 of the university), and we were all in similar boats. It was a little bit like being back at school – we were all thrown together, experiencing similar changes in life, and we all wanted to make some friends.
The university was quite different to my experience with QUT. Many classes don’t allow laptops, preferring pen and paper, which I honestly found quite frustrating. However, all my classes were interesting and engaging, with enthusiastic professors. The campus environment was what really made the university experience for me. Lots of cafes with very cheap coffee (ranging from 80c-$1.50) and many comfortable places to study and chat with friends.
Specific advice for exchange in Pamplona, Spain:
– A lot of people at the university speak English, but a lot of people in the city (and especially in cafes) don’t. Immerse yourself in the experience and try to learn a bit of Spanish. It’s way more enjoyable when you can actually talk to people, and it’s immensely rewarding when one day you realise you just had a whole interaction in Spanish.
– Pamplona is a pretty small city. Walk everywhere you can and get a lay of the land. I walked almost everywhere, and it didn’t take me long to feel very well acquainted with the city.
– Try to get an apartment with other students (through a company like CoHousing). I stayed at Home and Co in a studio apartment about 30 mins walk from the city centre. I don’t mind walking and there is a pretty good public transport system, however it can be a pain having to walk 30-40 mins late at night or when you need to get to university early in the morning. In hindsight, I would have preferred to live with other people. It’s nice to have someone to walk home with, make food with, or to chat about your experiences with.
– Be prepared for the culture shock. I wasn’t expecting much culture shock going to Spain, and was quite surprised by how different it is. Nothing is open before 10am. Don’t try to go grocery shopping on a Sunday. No, you can’t order dinner before 8pm. I thought I would never adapt to the late nights, or the idea of having a siesta in the afternoon, but now I’m struggling to shift back.
– Be wary of the chicken.
– Do your best to make friends with some of the local students. There are so many secrets about Spanish life and living in Pamplona that you’ll never learn if you only stick with other exchange students.
I’m about to return home and resume my normal life in Brisbane and I can definitely say I’m going to miss Spain. I learnt so much about myself on this trip and came to really appreciate and enjoy Spanish life. I look forward to going back one day and experiencing more of the country, hopefully getting down south in the warmer months. If you’re considering going on exchange, I would absolutely recommend Pamplona.
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange.
